A materialistic world?

Question

Do you feel that a lot of people are too materialistic and don't even realize it? That we have a lot of junk or pimp stuff that we don't need or doesn't make us happy? That we could use our money for other things like donating to the poor and stuff? I don't know it's been bugging me lately... I hope I'm not the only one who feels like this? I've been trying extra hard lately to remember this and cut back on my spending and donate it.

Dan C. your my new buddy :)

Answer 1

I agree 100%.

Answer 2

"Do you feel that a lot of people are too materialistic and don't even realize it?" - Yes, and no...
To loose control of your free will, in anything is bad/sad. Of course crossing the line is where sinning develop, in buying and buying things to impress people, etc.
"That we have a lot of junk or pimp stuff that we don't need or doesn't make us happy?" -- Everything I own has a time limit, if not used regularly - it's gone. I can't sell heaters to Eskimos, so can't pimp anything. Ha.
Two defenses for people:
1. People actually forget they have so much - "out of sight - out of mind" - this saying actually means it! (Most old sayings are based in truth.) Once they "find" this stuff people usually sell it (garage sale) or donate it.
2. For the "junk"; even the weirdest thing has meaning to people and is hard to part with. (A broken fishing reel almost repaired by grandpa - or anything from children is still priceless, even when the children are grown.)
You have a great point in human nature, hope I helped a little.

Answer 3

I literally went through a stage in my life when I was deeply depressed about exactly this. I went to high school and wanted to learn (although homework pissed me off to no end) and all these rich kids with their new weekly cell phones and Abercrombie clothes never did anything but wait till school was out and get drunk, I can't understand how people can be so ignorant. Even in the real world now it hasn't got any better, mommy and daddy still give their babies everything they need while I work my *** off for tuition. This is why rappers make me so mad, especially when they wear all that gold and still try to maintain a beaten down ghetto image, if they wanted sympathy why would they squander their "earnings" on such crap? This is about 90% of the reason I became buddhist. And honestly I was starting to think I was one of the only people who couldn't stand this, this question is encouraging.

And yes, all the actors and etc. who don't deserve 95% of their money should give it away, but instead they still squander it and are worshipped by the rest of the materialists that aren't as fortunate. I'm going to make myself stop typing now.

"One day I saw a man asleep
In a doorway on the street
Through walls of sheltered inhibition
I perceived his condition.
Dying of hunger and exposure,
Food and shelter, two blocks over.
Within this place we breed and dwell
We've created living hell."
-Operation Ivy, Sleep Long

Answer 4

ive felt that way for a long time. thats the way it goes tho, people will spend alot of money on something they might use once and discard, while others are struggling. when you have alot of money and are comfortable, you want to stay that way. youve got a lifestyle that maybe youve worked hard for, or maybe it was handed down, but you tend to look down on the unfortunate, thinking, i did it, why cant they. then you go on about your life and read in the paper about what is going on and feel bad, but do nothing. those kind of people will allways be that way. the thing that really gets to me is the wealthy that donate millions of dollars to build a sports stadium for a college,or other material things that are in there interest, but wont give a dime to someone who is down on there luck only a few miles away. i really wonder about donations and where they actually go. what i like to do is see someone that you know has no money, and give them 5 or 10 bucks. dont make a big deal out of it, just slip it to them. the look on their face is rewarding. you dont know what the money goes for, but at least you know they got it.

Answer 5

I have tried to cut back on material things and seceeded to some degree. I cut out most all soft drinks, and trash foods, I read a good book usually if not online and skip tv.
I meet poor people on here and answer their questions about their conditions. It takes time of course and if I could I would volunteer to help in some way. I envy those who have the time to work with soccer kids, or runaways,

Answer 6

Are you a chick?

It's usually just a girl thing. Ya'll like stuff. That's okay. If you live in a capitalistic government like America, you work hard for what you get and that's it.

Having materialism guilt is pathetic. It means that you don't think you deserve what you've earned. If that's the case, then you gotta work harder.

But, girl, let me tell you, the moment you start working hard, you'll get closer to the man's mindset. You'll start to value work over posessions, and you'll get annoyed with all your crap, and then you'll throw it away or giove it away. Maybe you'll sell it.

Next thing you know, you and your husband/boyfriend will go nuts on non-materialism, and you'll be living out of a tent.

That's also bad.

So be a good girl and be materialistic. Otherwise you'll never eat a good homecooked meal again.

Answer 7

yes i do i can say we had alot of things in our lives and one day we decided to give it all away.to people who may or may not needed it and we moved some 2500 miles away with just the clothes on are back and a change of clothes .Had anice house almost paid for and just actually gave it away so the anwser to your question alot of people spend most of there lives trying to get more than the next person.and then what so you may have more than me and the point is .thats what i would say i had and i gave away not letting others know more or less what we did for them . I feel its not what you have that counts it what you do with what you have.......???

Answer 8

I agree ! We have been brought up in a world that has taught us that if we don't have everything we want then we have not been successful in life! It's not about having everything it's about being content and happy with what we do have, and when we come to that part is when we are totally fulfilled!

Answer 9

If you live in the US you should know that we have about 6 percent of the worlds population here and we consume about 60 percent of the worlds resources

Answer 10

I'll bet you still have a 27" tv though, and a car that is less than 4 years old.